There is an old adage, laugh when you are young as there is enough time to smile as you grow old. Modern science and continuous research in dentistry has proved this adage wrong. Now with availability of dentures and implants, you can still laugh the same way as you did it before.
There are several treatment options available for replacing your missing teeth. Dentures both partial and complete are few of the options. Other better option is dental implant. Let us know in detail what are dentures (partial as well as complete) and implants, their advantages and disadvantages.
Complete And Partial Dentures
Dentures are conventional replacements for missing teeth and they are used by many people. Dentures are in two forms; complete dentures and partial dentures. Both complete dentures and partial dentures are removable; they are made of plastic base with replacement teeth attached to it. Partial denture is held by a metal clasp for anchoring itself to either side of healthy teeth.
Usually partial dentures are used when few natural teeth are still present in the upper and lower jaw. The benefits of partial denture is that it not only fills the empty space of the missing teeth, but also supports the adjacent teeth and helps to prevent loosening of these teeth.
Complete dentures are used when there is no natural tooth left. They are made up of complete set of teeth for upper and lower jaw.
Dental implant is another option available for replacing your missing teeth. Though costlier than partial dentures, dental implant has its own benefits over partial dentures.
Benefits Of Dental Implants Vs Partial Dentures
What are dental implants and how do they differ from partial dentures?
Dental implants are permanent dental replacements. It is a metal rod generally made from titanium which is inserted in the jawbone; it holds the false artificial teeth. One implant is able to hold more than one tooth, for the whole jaw bone, you may need 5 to 6 implants.
All artificial dental replacement techniques have their positive and negative sides. Here are some of the pros and cons of dental implants and partial dentures. Unlike partial dentures, implants look similar to the natural teeth. Besides you can apply the same force to bite food as you did while eating food with natural teeth.
Implants once inserted do not need any replacement or repairing, they last for the whole life with proper dental hygiene and care. Partial dentures can become loose and as time passes they may need to be replaced with a new set. Partial dentures can be harmful to the adjacent teeth in long run, whereas implants do not harm.
Partial implants need support of healthy adjacent teeth. In many cases during the old age it is not possible to have strong and healthy teeth. Even if the adjacent teeth are good for supporting the partial dentures, it can make these teeth weak. There are also chances of tooth decay; you need to remove the dentures every time after eating to clean your mouth and the dentures.
On the other hand, dental implants cannot be utilized for everyone. Besides being costly, dental implants need surgical intervention to fix the rod in the jaws. People with diabetes or blood disorders may be rejected for this treatment. There are all chances of infection as it is an invasive procedure.